Series 1, Episode 1 | First broadcast: 26 March 2005 | Writer: Russell T Davies | Director: Keith Boak
Cast
- Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor
- Billie Piper as Rose Tyler
- Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler
- Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith
- Mark Benton as Clive
Summary
Rose Tyler, a 19-year-old London shop worker, is closing up the basement of Henrik’s department store one evening when she’s attacked by animated plastic mannequins. She’s rescued by a mysterious stranger who calls himself “the Doctor,” who blows up the store to destroy the threat. Rose investigates further and discovers the Doctor is an alien battling the Nestene Consciousness, a sentient plastic intelligence planning to invade Earth through an Auton army hidden beneath the London Eye. The Doctor recruits Rose’s help, defeats the Nestene Consciousness using anti-plastic, and after saying goodbye, returns to invite her to travel with him in the TARDIS. She accepts, and the two depart together.
Interesting Facts
- This was the first episode of the revived series, marking Christopher Eccleston’s debut as the Ninth Doctor and the introduction of Billie Piper as companion Rose Tyler.
- It is the first Doctor Who episode titled after a companion rather than the story’s plot or monster.
- The plot reworks the basic premise of the Third Doctor’s debut serial, “Spearhead from Space” (1970), which also featured the Autons and Nestene Consciousness.
- The basement scene where Rose wanders alone among the mannequins was the very first scene Billie Piper filmed in the role.
- Tensions during the demanding shooting schedule strained the working relationship between showrunner Russell T Davies and Christopher Eccleston, reportedly contributing to Eccleston’s eventual decision to leave the role after only one series.
- Just four days after this episode aired in the UK, the BBC announced a second series had been commissioned, and revealed Eccleston would depart at the end of the 2005 Christmas special.
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